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Health Watch - A New Body: Fat Blasting

Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about what it takes to get a new body. Surgery can be helpful for losing a lot of weight, but there are other options when you just need a little contouring in trouble spots.

There are surgical ways to contour the body, like liposuction, but a new laser treatment may allow subtle contouring without the pain and potential side effects of liposuction or surgery. Dr. Jeffrey Kenkel, vice chairman of plastic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the lasers cause cells to lose fat, which is then either absorbed or excreted by the body.

The procedure requires six 40-minute sessions over a two-week period and doesn’t involve incisions or the kind of aftereffects seen with liposuction. It makes only minor changes, so candidates should be close to their ideal weight and needing to trim just an inch or so off their hips and thighs. Dr. Kenkel cautions that you should consult a board-certified plastic surgeon for this kind of procedure to get the results you want.

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March 2011

Health Watch is heard Monday through Friday nationwide on ABC Satellite Radio. Call your local radio station and ask if they carry the program.